Today we laid my wife’s 97-year old mother to rest. I’ve found that there are really only two occasions where I feel obligated to wear a tie anymore in retirement: Fundraisers and Funerals.

I wrote a stodgy, traditional obituary for the newspapers and followed it up with a humorous ditty for the private family get-together after today’s viewing:

Zanna Davisson Daniels passed peacefully in her sleep on May 9, 2019 at Wynnfield Crossing in Rochester, Indiana. She was born August 13, 1921 to Harold Bell and Ruth McCarty Davisson, also of Rochester. She was proceeded in death by her parents and loving husband of over 58 years, Charles Garwood (Garry) Daniels.

She is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Children include: Dr. Dan (Janice) Daniels of Seneca S. Carolina, Debra (Debsie & Tom) Dyer of Indianapolis, Dianne Sutherland of Shingletown, California, and Denise (Mike) Johnston of Portland Oregon. Grandchildren: James Sutherland, Amanda Daniels, Geoff (Kelly) Daniels, Megan Peters, Emily (Bobby) Humphrey, Miranda Peters, and Zanna Claire Dyer. Great grandchild: Cole Thomas Humphrey.

Zanna was a graduate of Rochester High School and earned her undergraduate and masters from Indiana University. Mrs. Daniels also taught fourth grade classes at Columbia Elementary in Rochester for 22 years and founded Manitou Kennels. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, Kappa Kappa Kappa, First Baptist Church of Rochester, and a Daughter of the American Revolution.

A private burial service will be held at Rochester IOOF Cemetery. Donations should be made to The Garry Daniels -Lake Manitou Association, Inc. Memorial Foundation, PO Box 807, 227 East 9th Street, Rochester, Indiana 46975.P.O. Box 807.

Zanna

Zanna is gone,
But I’ll never forget.
The twenty years,
Since we first met.

I one foolishly asked,
If I could call her “Mom.”
But instead “Big Z,”
As endeared by Tom.

There were already four,
That she would Mother.
Debsie, Dianne, Denise,
And Dan their brother.

She married Garry,
In Forty-One.
And was the only one,
He couldn’t outrun.

A fourth grade teacher,
Who fed stray cats.
And made a home for dogs.
Loved the food at Pat’s.

The Lake Manitou home,
Was part of family life.
And on the boat pier,
Denise became my wife.

As I got to know her,
And her love of Mark Grace.
We took her to Wrigley,
And put a smile on her face.

I recall the fireworks,
And chicken on the grill.
Crystal or Fiesta,
On every shelf and sill.

She defied her Alma Mater,
Because of Bobby Knight.
And read a million books,
Until she struggled with sight.

You thought she couldn’t hear,
Until you whispered at her back.
She’d use her classic eye roll,
To counter your wise crack.

Her final years at Wynnfield,
Were hard on everyone.
And hopefully in heaven,
Her new life has begun.

I once thought,
She’d live forever.
But a Cubs World Series,
Put an end to never.

Copyright 2019 johnstonwrites.com

Note: Her husband, Garry, was a college track star and her favorite team was the Cubs, especially when Mark Grace was playing first base. I watched Game Six of the 2016 World Series with her in her Wynnfield Crossing retirement home, after seeing Games Four and Five in Chicago on our trip down to visit her. I then returned to Chicago to watch the Cubs win it all on TV from our hotel room. I’m glad she finally got to see them win the World Championship in her lifetime, a moment my dad, also a lifelong Cubs’ fan, missed by two years.

Rest in Peace, Zanna – I’ll miss you.